Bakemonogatari: Part Two

4/06/2013

Series: Part Two

Episodes: 7

Average length of each episode: 24 minutes

Director: Akiyuki Shimbou

Publisher: Hanabee

In Part One of Bakemonogatari, Koyomi Araragi and his desire to help those afflicted by apparitions took us on a journey of self-discovery. The women around him developed into meaningful people in his life and served a purpose in different situations. In Part Two his maturity unfolds in front of your eyes as the one thing that makes him risk his life becomes apparent – love.

Araragi has been through a lot, and needed to smarten up quickly. His now girlfriend Senjougahara Hitagi tested his strength, and their relationship plays a big role in how Araragi handles each situation. He is constantly being confronted and tested with right and wrong, and how love can test a person’s strength. Mentor Meme Oshino has pushed him into the world on his own and is making him take responsibility. Araragi’s incredibly caring nature makes him come across as careless and ultimately puts his life at risk, but he slowly learns the passion within him for other people – all people – whether they are ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Araragi and Hitagi’s relationship blossoms, but Araragi still struggles with sexuality, especially when expressed openly by other women. His girlfriend who comes across hostile at times, is understanding and shows him another perspective; why men and women are so alike in such matters, and how he should stop differentiating his self just because of gender.

The visuals in Part Two have evolved with less real action footage being shown and a lot more chaotic anime. Action scenes left me anxious, holding my breath and feeling completely on edge without me noticing. The music fits in well, and you start to pick up on certain themes for certain characters. Line and pattern isn’t as prominent, but used effectively when they matter.

Highlight Moment: Araragi tells the story of his first date with Hitagi. We explore her love for Araragi and why she feels it so strongly. Through this, we’re able to see how much Araragi has matured and what good a mutually benefiting relationship can do for a person’s life. Hitagi also explains her sexual intentions with Araragi beautifully, as she opens up about a torturous experience in her life. 

Bakemonogatari so far has been full of life lessons. We’re taken through the maze of Araragi’s life to be shown how jealousy, love, stress and abuse affects everyone around them, not just the person feeling it. Just like Part One, Part Two is as much a living book as its predecessor. It flows you through each character’s complexities and makes you appreciate their place in Araragi’s life. Through them we get to appreciate qualities in him, and qualities we can identify within ourselves and those around us. There are some important messages Bakemonogatari conveys, and does so in a way you want to grab the closest shoulder, sob, sigh and smile. Don’t miss out on the experience but make sure you have someone nearby in case of emergency.

Score: 8.9

Written by Yiánna Paris